How to Create Product Demo Videos that Get Social Media Attention: 6 Strategies to Increase Sales
via Marketing Sherpa

“Aaron Miller, President, ProGuitarShop.com, sees online video as the perfect medium for selling the retailer’s boutique electric guitar effects pedals.

In late 2007, ProGuitarShop.com was primarily an eBay retailer struggling to build traffic to their website. Miller’s team created a new strategy that avoided focusing on search engines. Instead, they built traffic through social networks, mostly by video marketing through YouTube.

Two years and more than 550 videos later, the team captures about 45,000 unique video views daily on YouTube and between 15,000 and 20,000 on their website — all from a niche audience. Sales have doubled each year since the effort began.”

Stella Artois Ditches Old-Time Campaigns, Creates Retro “TV” Station
via Fast Company

“How long is it until companies begin sponsoring full-on TV shows of their own and publishing them on the Web? That doesn’t sound too much different from television entertainment in the 1950s and the rise of soap operas. And now, the economics make tremendous sense: Why bother creating TV ads if you can get a few million views with no distribution costs while simultaneously creating and having final cut control over far more ambitious content?”

How long indeed?  It’s happening already.  One by one, brands are realizing the power of creating a constant flow of interesting, inexpensive media — forgoing the overhead-rich worlds of TV and traditional advertising.

The Fast Company asks how long it will be until a brand asks the creators of a show like Gossip Girl to create extended storylines with brands in center stage.  Not too long, I feel. But the question for aspiring and independent creators is — if I don’t work for a network and I don’t make a TV show, what career path can I take to get better cred with brands?

It’s something I’m wrestling with myself.

The answer is that you have to have proof of your work.  And, following the logic trail, you have to have work to get results!

If you’ve followed my career — and I know all six of you reading this have — you’ll see Pepperdine University (recognizable brand), Mann Theatres (regionally known brand), my own project Flipper Nation (350,000 views + awards), deals with ABC (again, a brand), Historical Tweets (4.7 million page views this year), and only now do I have an opportunity to step in front of brands.

The shackles are off.  Make something.  Put it online.  Do it again.  Brands don’t want a one-time hit, they want someone who can deliver results.  So don’t be the one-timer.  Keep working, keep crafting.  Keep getting better.  In time, the results will come.  And so will the brands.

1) Can you request someone to follow you on Twitter without posting it on the wall for everyone else to see?

Nope — you can’t “request followers” like you do in Facebook. Think of Twitter like a blog. If someone wants to follow you, they will. And if you want someone to follow you, you have to ask for it out in the open (or via an email). (PS — asking someone to follow you in Twitter is looked down upon — it’s better to participate in a conversation they’re already having or RT some of their tweets. If they notice you and like your content, they’ll follow you. Easier said than done, but there you go.)

2) Can you direct message someone without them following you?

Again, no. When you follow someone, you give them the permission to DM you. If they don’t follow you, can’t DM them.

Always good to be thinking about both technological possibility AND etiquette when it comes to your personal online brand.

I always wanted to enter the sleek, stylish world of AMC’s multi-Emmy nominated series “Mad Men.” And I just did! (That’s me in the suit.)

The show’s Web site lets you “Mad Men Yourself” — create your own “Mad Men” (or Mad Women?) avatar. Choose your body type, hair color, clothing, accessories and drink of choice. Then, put your character in a scene and set the image as your background. This. Is. Awesome. It’ll tide you over until the 10 p.m. Aug. 16 season three premiere.